21/6
RESTRICTED
LF tandon Esq
Department of Trade and Industry
Sunle use
20/25 High Holborn
London CAT GLP
10 April 1973
Thank you for your letter, and its enclosure, of 12 March and your telegram of 19 March about the state of play on the negotiations over the llong Kong Shipping Register.
You will premimably by now have received on account (perhaps a record) of Mr Heseltines discussions with the Governor and his officials during his recent visit if so you will be much better informed than I as since (following precedent) I was not at the talks, the arowded programme did not give me an opportunity to find out from the Minister, or his party, how they went, and I have not yet seen the record,
My first point is therefore that I should be very grateful to have a copy of the record as soon as possible, and to be kept up to date thereafter,
The need to keep au fait is greater than ever since the Ministers visit for two reasons. First, partly as a result of the visit and party because I have had cause to do so in the interests of promoting British shipyard interests, I have developed a closer, and fairly relaxed, relationship with Y K Pao. Second boonuse having been seen close to the Minister during his visit it is assumed by Y K Pao, the Director of Marine et al that I know about this problem andam an ear into which they can whisper. I have (and shall continue) stressed to them that I an not directly involved in this, but no amount of protesting by ne will convince them that I am entirely detached. Indeed sincethis is part of the scenario of commercial relations, especially in the shipping field - it would look odd if I were. So I must at least know enough to listen intelligently and to avoid nodding the wrong way - more than that, I think that (as a sort of mutual prismers friend) I might be able formally to get soross some of the arguments they cannot or will not heed across no gotiating table.
All that I can at present contribute to any evaluation of the present position are the following "gossip" bits. First Derek Jones was flatterod by the urgent and high level attention given to him; I believe that it helped to persuade him that HG really want to find an answer and aro trying and that he (and Fletcher) are botter disposed to try to reconcile the requiremont of the two sides than thay might otherwise have beon. It is only a mall oruab of comfort I know and I wouldn't expect it to load them to give up ground easily -but every bit of goodwill helps. Second
/Alan Fletcher seems
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